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Home , Emmerson Mnangagwa

- Researched and compiled by the Refugee Documentation Centre of Ireland on Wednesday 6 & Thursday 7 November 2017

Information on the current political situation including present/past on Emerson Mnangagwa

A publication issued in November 2017 by IRIN News states:

“Mnangagwa, 75, will lead a deeply divided party, seemingly bankrupt of fresh ideas, but with the weight of the country’s hopes for better times on his shoulders. Mnangagwa served Mugabe for four decades as his enforcer and heir apparent, but after a spectacular falling out and dismissal as vice-president, he left for until a palace coup cleared the way this week for his return” (IRIN News (24 November 2017) Is Zimbabwe’s new president up to the task?).

This report also states that:

“The biggest challenge for Mnangagwa is the state of the economy. Zimbabwe has been in crisis for close to two decades” (ibid).

This report also points out that:

“The people of are a constituency Mnangagwa will struggle to win over. As minister of state security, he was responsible along with Mugabe and current Defence Minister , for the killing of an estimated 20,000 Ndebele people between 1983 and 1987” (ibid).

In November 2017 points out that:

“Perhaps the most controversial episode from Mnangagwa’s past is his role in ethnic massacres in the 1980s, carried out under Mugabe’s watch as part of a vicious post- independence power struggle with other factions. Thousands of civilians were massacred by the Zimbabwean military, mostly ethnic Ndebeles in Matabeleland” (Guardian (24 November 2017) Emmerson Mnangagwa: the 'Crocodile' taking power in Zimbabwe

A report issued in November 2017 by the Guardian notes:

“Relatives of victims of state-sponsored violence said they were concerned about the track record of the new leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was Mugabe’s righthand man and is blamed for the brutal suppression of political opposition parties during elections in 2008” (Guardian (26 November 2017) Zimbabwe activists fear post-Mugabe human rights crackdown).

BBC News in November 2017 commenting on Mnangagwa states that:

“…Helped direct Zimbabwe's war of independence in the 1960s and 1970s; Became the country's spymaster during the 1980s civil conflict, in which thousands of civilians were killed, but has denied any role in the massacres, blaming the army; Accused of masterminding attacks on opposition supporters after 2008 election…” (BBC News (24 November 2017) Emmerson Mnangagwa: The 'crocodile' who snapped back).

Voice of America in December 2017 states that:

“Zimbabwe's new president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has announced a 22-member Cabinet made up entirely of ruling party members, including two senior army officials. Legal experts say the new president might have made his first misstep in office. Despite a promise to reach out to the opposition, Mnangagwa only appointed "loyalists,"according to Lovemore Madhuku, a law professor at the . Madhuku said that was expected. Mnangagwa had to pay back those who stood up for him after he was fired as vice president by Zimbabwe's longtime ruler, ” ( (1 December 2017) Zimbabwe's New President Names All-loyalist Cabinet).

In December 2017 states:

“Zimbabwe’s new president Emmerson Mnangagwa swore in his cabinet on Monday, with allies defending him against criticism for giving top posts to the generals who helped his rise to power” (Reuters (4 December 2017) Zimbabwe swears in first post- Mugabe cabinet).

In December 2017 BBC News points out that:

“Zimbabwe's new President Emmerson Mnangagwa has replaced two ministers, two days after announcing his cabinet. Critics said the original line-up showed Mr Mnangagwa had no plans to bring real change to the country despite hailing a "new democracy". The education and labour ministers have now been replaced, ostensibly to comply with a constitutional provision. But military chiefs remain in charge of the foreign affairs and land portfolios. Ten days ago Mr Mnangagwa returned from exile following the military coup against Robert Mugabe, promising to serve all citizens equally” (BBC News (2 December 2017) Zimbabwe's Mnangagwa replaces ministers after outcry).

Voice of America in November 2017 points out that:

“Tuesday, Mnangagwa announced his government would allow a three-month amnesty for those willing to return state funds they took during the previous administration” (Voice of America (28 November 2017) Zimbabwe Struggles to Face Mugabe-Era Crimes).

A report issued in November 2017 by the Zimbabwe Peace Project notes that:

“Although many Zimbabweans celebrated the fall of President Mugabe and a small period of enjoying rights such as the right to petition or march and freedom of expression, the military intervention exposed the partisan nature of the military in civilian politics and entrenched militarism in Zimbabwean politics particularly within the ruling party (Zimbabwe Peace Project (30 November 2017) ZPP Monthly Monitoring Report: Human Rights Violations (November 2017), p.2).

In November 2017 Voice of America states:

“Zimbabwean security forces say order has been restored and they will be returning to the streets. But that announcement was met with fear from many Zimbabweans, who remain wary of men in uniform, following years of abuses” (Voice of America (27 November 2017) Zimbabwe Police Return to Beats After Political Upheaval).

References

BBC News (2 December 2017) Zimbabwe's Mnangagwa replaces ministers after outcry http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-42210516 Accessed Thursday 7 December 2017

BBC News (24 November 2017) Emmerson Mnangagwa: The 'crocodile' who snapped back http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-41995876 Accessed Thursday 7 December 2017

Guardian (26 November 2017) Zimbabwe activists fear post-Mugabe human rights crackdown https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/26/zimbabwe-activists-fear-post- mugabe-human-rights-crackdown-mnangagwa Accessed Thursday 7 December 2017

Guardian (24 November 2017) Emmerson Mnangagwa: the 'Crocodile' taking power in Zimbabwe https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/24/emmerson-mnangagwa-crocodile- power-zimbabwe-robert-mugabe Accessed Thursday 7 December 2017

IRIN News (24 November 2017) Is Zimbabwe’s new president up to the task? http://www.irinnews.org/news/2017/11/24/zimbabwe-s-new-president-task Accessed Wednesday 6 December 2017

Reuters (4 December 2017) Zimbabwe swears in first post-Mugabe cabinet https://www.reuters.com/article/us-zimbabwe-politics/zimbabwe-swears-in-first-post- mugabe-cabinet-idUSKBN1DY1D1 Accessed Thursday 7 December 2017

Voice of America (1 December 2017) Zimbabwe's New President Names All-loyalist Cabinet http://www.ein.org.uk/members/country-report/zimbabwes-new-president-names-all- loyalist-cabinet This is a subscription database Accessed Wednesday 6 December 2017

Voice of America (28 November 2017) Zimbabwe Struggles to Face Mugabe-Era Crimes http://www.ein.org.uk/members/country-report/zimbabwe-struggles-face-mugabe- era-crimes This is a subscription database Accessed Wednesday 6 December 2017

Voice of America (27 November 2017) Zimbabwe Police Return to Beats After Political Upheaval http://www.ein.org.uk/members/country-report/zimbabwe-police-return-beats-after- political-upheaval This is a subscription database Accessed Wednesday 6 December 2017

Zimbabwe Peace Project (30 November 2017) ZPP Monthly Monitoring Report: Human Rights Violations (November 2017) https://reliefweb.int/report/zimbabwe/zpp-monthly-monitoring-report-human-rights- violations-november-2017 Accessed Wednesday 6 December 2017

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Refugee Documentation Centre within time constraints. This response is not and does not purport to be conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please read in full all documents referred to.

Sources Consulted

Amnesty International BBC News Electronic Immigration Network European Country of Origin Information Network Freedom House Google Human Rights Watch Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre International Crisis Group IRIN News Lexis Nexis Minority Rights Group International Online Newspapers Refugee Documentation Centre E-Library Refugee Documentation Centre Query Database Reliefweb Reuters Home Office Department of State UNHCR Refworld